Steuben County man who allegedly made death threats against U.S. Rep. Omar released

Activists and members of Congress rallied in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar. Omar says she's faced increased death threats since President Donald Trump spread a video that purports to show her being dismissive of the 2001 terrorist attacks. (April 30)
AP

U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson on Friday released Patrick Carlineo, 55, of Addison, from custody.

Conditions of that release include home detention with electronic monitoring and a mental health assessment and treatment.

Carlineo was charged by criminal complaint with threatening to assault and murder a United States official.

Carlineo was arrested by the FBI in early April after federal authorities allege he made death threats via telephone against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

Omar is a freshman representative who was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm election and one of three members of Congress who are Muslim.

On March 21, a staff member in Omar's office received a phone call around 12:20 p.m., the criminal complaint stated.

During the call, an individual, eventually identified as Carlineo, reportedly stated to the staff member, “Do you work for the Muslim Brotherhood? Why are you working for her, she's an (expletive) terrorist. I’ll put a bullet in her (expletive) skull.”

After receiving the call, Omar's office referred the threat to the United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, which began an investigation in coordination with the FBI.

Carlineo provided a name and phone number to Omar's staff member, and authorities were able to trace the phone number to an Addison address, according to the complaint.

Carlineo told FBI agents he is a patriot, that he loves President Trump and hates radical Muslims in government, the complaint stated.

He also told agents he didn't remember exactly what he said to Omar's staffer but admitted it might have been close to what her office reported to authorities.

When asked if there were any weapons in the residence, Carlineo confirmed there was a shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle, according to the complaint.

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